Ben Molyneux | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/profile/ben-molyneux
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Tories should stop using junior doctors as a pawn in the EU power struggle | Ben Molyneuxhttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/18/tories-junior-doctors-pawn-eu-power-struggle
I resent Cameron knocking the European working time directive – not working 100-hour weeks has probably saved lives<p>Before the introduction of the <a href="http://bma.org.uk/practical-support-at-work/ewtd" title="">European working time directive </a>(EWTD) for junior doctors in 2004, it was not uncommon for us to work in excess of 100-hour weeks. People who trained under these conditions talk candidly about falling asleep in theatre. So I am in no doubt that the directive has saved many lives.</p><p>Yet only a couple of weeks ago, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9783545/David-Cameron-we-will-keep-out-EU-benefit-tourists.html" title="">David Cameron said </a>the EWTD should never have been introduced. One of the reasons he gave was "it affects the way we run our hospitals". Now, following the collapse of talks in Europe on revisions to the directive, the newly launched Conservative group <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21037590" title="">Fresh Start</a> is calling for the UK to negotiate a complete opt-out from all existing EU social and employment legislation.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/18/tories-junior-doctors-pawn-eu-power-struggle">Continue reading...</a>European UnionEuropeWorld newsDoctorsHealthSocietyEmployment lawDavid CameronFri, 18 Jan 2013 10:00:03 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/18/tories-junior-doctors-pawn-eu-power-strugglePhotograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesA surgeon and his theatre team perform keyhole surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesA surgeon and his theatre team perform keyhole surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesBen Molyneux, chair of the BMA's junior doctor committee2013-01-18T10:00:03Z